Abstract: Parallel computations are needed for effectively analyzingthe concrete-faced rockfill dam using 3D nonlinear finite element method.Parallelism is to be found during modeling stage and some neighbouringdam sections are made into a substructure. It is convenient and cansatisfy the demands of the domain decomposition.A parallel multi-frontal code for COW isdeveloped and applied to the numerical analysis of Xilongchi lower reservoirdam, an asphalt concrete faced rockfill dam, with the same result as in aserial calculation. From the speedup ratios and parallel efficiency, itis shown that the parallel multi-frontal method can be used toreliably analyze the concrete-faced rockfill dam and itis simple and easy to realize, without requiring an accessorial task assignmentsubroutine.